Ecuador's President Highlights Global Impact of Violence in Interview with BBC

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa recently spoke to the BBC about the escalating gang violence in his country, describing it as a problem that affects the entire world. Despite being one of the youngest presidents in Ecuador's history, Noboa now faces the country's biggest crisis. The unrest began with the escape of two gang leaders from prison, followed by hostage situations and bomb attacks in several cities. The situation reached a boiling point when armed men stormed a television studio in Guayaquil, threatening staff at gunpoint on live television. During an exclusive interview with the BBC in Guayaquil, President Noboa acknowledged the daunting task of restoring peace in Ecuador. He expressed that he didn't expect the job to be easy and emphasized the need to combat the terrorist groups responsible for the violence. In response to the situation, Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" with the drug gangs controlling the cocaine trade and issued an order to "neutralize" 22 armed groups, labeling them as terrorist organizations. The United States has offered assistance to Ecuador, sending a delegation of law enforcement, military, and diplomatic personnel in the coming weeks. While critics view this as US interventionism, President Noboa sees it as a positive step towards addressing the international impact of the drug cartels operating in Ecuador. The article also highlights two pressing issues resulting from the violence. Firstly, around 180 prison officers remain in the hands of criminal gangs, leading to desperate protests by their families in Quito. President Noboa refused to negotiate with the gangs but assured that the government was in constant communication with the armed forces and police to secure their release. Secondly, there is a search underway for Adolfo Macias Villamar, a notorious gang leader, and Fabricio Colon Pico, the leader of an opposing gang, who both escaped from prison. The deep-rooted problems in Ecuador are exposed by the drug gangs, which work alongside Mexican cartels to smuggle cocaine from Ecuador's ports to the US and Europe. The gangs' substantial profits have allowed them to corrupt the judicial, political, and prison systems. President Noboa aims to implement comprehensive reforms in the future, although critics believe it will be a challenging task for someone with limited political experience. Despite the difficult circumstances, President Noboa remains determined to prevent Ecuador from becoming a "narco-state". His team is also promoting tourism in the country to showcase its natural beauty. However, the recent violence has painted a darker picture of Ecuador as it spirals into armed conflict and instability. President Noboa rejects the notion of it becoming a narco-state and assures that his administration will continue to fight against this outcome.